Improvement in gang-plows



3 Sheets-#Sheet 1. E. A. BE E R S.

Gang-Flows. N0, 151,649, Patented June 2, 1874.

llmull BSheets--Sheet E. A. BEEBS.

Gang-Flaws.A N0. 151,649, Patented June 2,1874.

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UNITED STATES.l

EDIVIN A. BEERS, OF SYOAMORE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO E. T.: N'YE, OF SAME PLACE.'-

' IMPROVEMENT IN GANG-Hows.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,649,l dated J une 2, 187,4; application filed February 25, 1874.

- which- Figure l is a plan view of the upper side of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations -of opposite sides of said machine, the plows being dropped to the position occupied while in operation. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the side shownin Fig. 3, showing said plows raised and removed from contact with the ground. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the forward part of the frame of the machine, the nearest wheel being removed so as to show the arrangement of the parts employed for raising or lowering said wheel. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the inner side of the lever used for operating said raising or lowering devices. Figs. 8 and 9 are central longitudinal sections of the same, showing', respectively, the locking-bolt in engagement and released from engagement with the toothed locking-disk. Fig. `l0 is a section of the lever and windlass employed for raising the plows, said lever being in engagement with the ratchet-disk of said windlass; and Fig. l1 is a like view of the same, said lever being released from engagement with said disk.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

- The design of my invention is to increase the efficiency and the thoroughness and ease of operation of a wheeled plow; and it consists principally in the means employed for connecting the plow-beams with and rendering the saine laterally adjustable upon the axle, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter speeiiied.- It consists, further, in a plowbeam swiveled at its front end within a suitable attachment, and locked in position therein by means of a set-screw, substantially as and for thepurpose hereinafter shown. It consists,-

further, in the means employed for holding the plow to position within the ground, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It consists, finally, in a pole attached to and made laterally adjustable upon the frame, substantially asand for the purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawings, Arepresents the axle of my machine, constructed, preferably, of or from a square bar of iron, and having attached to the furrow-side end a standard, B, that extends vertically upward, and is provided within its outer face with a vertical groove, b, which groove receives and contains a corresponding bar, C, and permits the same to be moved therein freely in a vertical direction. At its upper end the stand ard B extends horizontally outward,'and furnishes a bearing for one end of a screw, D, that is swiveled therein. The upper end of said screw is provided with a hand-wheel, d, for use in rotating the same, while its lower threaded portion passes through a correspondingly-threaded opening that is provided in an arm, c, that extends horizontally outward from the upper end of the slide-bar C, such arrangement of parts enabling the latter to be adjusted to and secured in vert-ical position. From the outer side of the slide-bar C an axle-arm, E, extends horizontally and 'laterally outward, and upon the same is journaled a ground-wheel, F, of usual construction. From the opposite end of the axle A a second standard, G, extends upward, and has attached to or upon its outer face a circular toothed disk,'H, which latteris provided with a vcentral stud, IL, that projects horizontally and laterally outward, and furfnishes a bearing for and upon-Which is journaled a plate, I. vThe plate I corresponds to and incloses the outer face and the periphery of the disk H, and is provided with two radial arms, i and fi', placed at a right angle to each other, the first of which receives and contains one end of an operating-lever, K, While'said -second arm, i', is provided with a laterally and horizontally projecting axle arm, L, upon which is journaled a second ground-wheel, F. As thus arranged, it will be seen that by moving the plate I upon vits pivotal bearing, the relative vertical positions of the axlearm L and wheel `F will v be varied so "as" to permit PATENT OFFICE.

the latter to pear upon the surface of the ground when the machine is in use and the opposite wheel is running in a furrow, orto occupy a position upon a line vertically with said oppositei wheel when saidI machine is passing to or from the field. When adjusted to position the bearing of the wheel F is secured in place by means of a detent, k, that works longitudinally within a suitable groove that is provided in the lever K, and engages with the notches h of the disk H. A spring for holding the detent in engagement with the toothed disk and aha'nd-lever for releasing the former from engagement with the latter are provided, and operate in the usual manner. At the upper ends of the standards B and G are attached two bars, M and M', which have lines parallel to each other and to the axle A; Upon the lower side of the front bar M is piv= oted one end of a rail, N, which from 'thence extends rearward through a guide, m, attach ed to or upon the lower side of the rear bai` M', and upon its rear end is provided with and supported upon a caster-wheel, 0, of usual construction, said rail, crossfoars, standards, and axle thus forming `the frame of the chine. Uponand around the axle A areloosely fitted two blocks, l? and P, whichv are each provided with a central opening that corresponds to the transverse size and shape of the same, and are secured in position thereon by means of set-'screws p and p, that pass vinward through said blocks and bear against said axle,

Within the rear extended portion "of each slid ingblock l? is provided a horizontal slot,- p', that receives the corresponding tongue qof a second block, Q, which tongue is pivoted within said slot, so as to permit it and its block to move lateralljT in either direction; Within the rear end of the block Q is pro'- vided a vertical slot, q', that receives a clevis, B, of the form shown in Figs, 3, 4, and 5, said -clevis being connected with said block by vmeans of a pin, r, that passes horizontally through the latter and through one of a number of openings, 7j', provided in said cle'vis. At the rear end of each clevis R is provided a round socket, r, that receives the correspondingly-shaped journal 8 of a plow-beam, S, which journal extends through said socket, and is secured in longitudinal position by means of a pin, s', that passes transversely through vits forward end, A seti'screw, x, passing radially through the 'wall of said socket, bears at its inner end against said journal, and prevents the latter fromturning-,

It will be seen that the connection of the plowb'eains with the axle gives to them perfect freedom of lateral and vertical motion, while, by means of the swivel-connection between each beam and lits clevis,tlie plow T, attached'to the rear end of said beam, can be turned so as to throw' the soil to a greater or less distance.'l vShould a plow strikea root or other obstruction, the set-screws will permit the beam to turn so as to disengage said plow before the strain becomes suflicient to cause any of the parts tol break. The width of the furrows is regulated by the adjustment of the blocks Pand P upon the axle, said blocks being capable of movement within the limits requiredby the widest and narrowest furrows. The plows are raised, when not in use, by means ofthe following-described mechanism: A shaft, U, is journaled within suitable bearings V and Y, that are attached to or upon the upper side of the rail N, and is provided at each end with a grooved wheel, u, and at its center with a toothed wheel, u', with the latter of which a spring-pawl, W, is caused to engage. To each wheel u is attached one end of a chain, X, that fromrethence extends rearward over a pulley, Y, journaled within a suitable support attached to they rail lN, and has its opposite end attached to or upon a plow-beam, S, at or near the longitudinal center of the plow T.

Asthus arranged, itwill be seen that by rotating the shaft U the chains X and X will be wound upon or luuwound from the wheels u and a, and the plow-beams and: plows correspondingly raised or lowered, ,Iheshaft AU is turned forward, so as to raise the plows, by means of a lever, Z, that is pivoted upon its end, and is provided with a suitable detent, thatengag'es withv corresponding teeth that are formed upon the contiguous face `of the wheel u, whileto `lower L'Said plows it is only requisite that the detent W should be released from engagement with ythe ratchet-wheel u by a slight pressure of the operators foot, To hold the plows in vertical position when in the ground, I pivoty loosely to the rear end of either or both plow-,beams S a short bar, A', within the rear end of which I swivel one end of a second bar, B', the opposite end of which latter isprovided with an open slot, b', that enables it to pass over a stud or pin, C', that projects laterallyvoutwzard from the rear end of the r'ail N, the length of said slot being such as to cause its innerend to bear upon v said pin when said plow,l is inthe desired position, and resist in a direct line of theupward pressure o f the latter, A head upon the outer end of the stud G holds the slotted bar B' in lateral position. In order that the bar B may oii'er no obstacle to the elevation of the plow when necessary, a knuckle-joint, b, formed at its longitudinal center, permits said bar to fold ftogether and assume the position shown in Fig, 5, The weight of the braceabar B] is suincient tokeep its joint yin position when the plows are in use and when it is necessary to raise-the latter said, jointed center must be raised until its pivotal bearing is thrown out of line with the `ends. To effect this result I attach a small chain to the jointed center of said bar, and extend it upward and forward within convenient reach of the driver. The pole D is pivoted4 at its' rear dividedend to or upon a rod, E', that is secured at its ends Within suitable lugs, which extend forward from the lower ends of the standards B and G, said rod being parallel with the axle A.

The length of the rod E(- between its end bearings is much greater than the Width of the rear end of the pole, so that the latter may be adjusted. in either direction, as much as may be requisite, in order to vary the line of draft. When adjusted to place the pole is secured in lateral position by means of two collars, F and- F that are placed upon opposite sides of the ends of said pole, and are held iu place by suitable set-screwsf and f". A seat, X', attached to the rail N, completes the machine, the operation and advantages of which have been suiciently set forth.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1. In combination with the plow-beams S and S and laterally-adjustable blocks P and P, provided with the slots p and p the ton gued and slotted blocks Q, q, and q', and the clevises R and It, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

2. A plow-beam swiveled at its front end Within a suitable attachment, and locked in position therein by means of ka set-screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the plow-beam S, hinged at its front end, the bar B', pivoted at one end to the rear end of said beam, jointed at its longitudinal center, and provided at its rear end with a longitudinal slot, b', which' embraces the pin C', substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I

have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, 1874.

. EDWIN A. BEERS.

Witnesses p O. S. HoLooMB,

EDWARD WAITE. 

